Tips For Choosing The Best Shoulder Pads

By Jayne Rutledge


Shoulder pads are very useful to players or athletes. For them to function well, they should fit well and perform effectively. The market is full of these products of different styles and fit. While many people consider protection as the priority, comfort level is also necessary. Explored in this piece are the guidelines for buying the best shoulder pads.

When you go out for shopping, it is good to check how these protectors have been constructed. These items contain a tough shell made of plastic. This shell is lined with foam used to absorb impacts. They are designed to offer protection to collarbone, breastbone, and muscles of the chest. There is also an extension to the shoulders. You need to choose pads that are constructed well to offer maximum protection and comfort.

Check between flat and cantilever pad constructions. For footballers who play a quarter of the field, flat-constructed pads can be suitable for them. This is because they are not always active in the field. Cantilever ones are suitable for players who act as blockers since they encounter a lot of impact with other players, and they must have fully protected themselves.

Another important thing to look at is the internal foam. Different brands have their own foam designs. You may come across dual-density foam protectors. Such pads use both open and closed cell foam. This is actually to increase protection. The outer layer is actually denser foam while the inner one is softer and is for cushioning against the body.

The foams used in these items do not matter a lot. There are other extras that are meant to increase the comfort level of the wearer. You can go for pads that contain ventilation slats. These ones are used to regulate the temperatures while the person is playing. There are also moisture-absorbing pad linings that absorb excess sweat and make the player stay cool.

Consider looking for should protectors with good fasteners. There are commonly two types of fasteners used in these protective gadgets. These are vinyl buckles and elastic straps. Elastic ones are easy to adjust while playing. This is because they can expand and contract to give enough room for breathing. On the other hand, vinyl buckles are very strong and long lasting. Although they are not stretchable like the elastic ones, they can serve you for a long time.

Make sure that you go for the appropriate size and fitting. These products come in different sizes. Since people are not the same in terms of size, taking time to shop around for your right size is important. It is good to take the measurement the diameter around your shoulders in order to determine the right fit for you.

You should also look at add-on materials when scouting around for the best shoulder pads. For example, if you had an injury before, consider looking for a pad with a restricting layer. A good add-on is a neck roll. There are also others in the market. Make sure that your chosen add-on will not restrict your movement freedom.




About the Author: